Backing strip for windshield wiper and method of making a backing strip

ABSTRACT

A backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly includes a pair of rails. Each of the pair of rails includes a body portion and a detent portion. The detent portion includes a cut-out on each side thereof. The cut-outs are generally symmetric with each other and form a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion. The cut-out on one side of the detent portion of each of said rails is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of the detent portion of each of the rails are for engaging a windshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly. In particular, the present invention is directed to a backingstrip for a windshield wiper assembly which stiffens the windshieldwiper blade while allowing the windshield wiper blade to flex to conformto the curvature of a windshield of a vehicle. The present invention isalso directed to a rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly and a method of manufacturing a rail for a backing strip for awindshield wiper assembly.

2. Description of Related Art

Various types of backing strips for windshield wiper assemblies areknown. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,185,805 is directed to a method offorming a windshield wiper. The windshield wiper includes a wiping bladehaving two recesses for receiving a pair of backing strips. The backingstrips include two teeth for retaining the backing strip and two stopswhich receive a claw of the windshield wiper. However, the stops whichare formed on one side of each of the backing strips must be used suchthat they face outwardly to receive the claw of the windshield wiper. Inview of this, it is not possible to use the backing strips such thateither side of the backing strips can receive the claw of the windshieldwiper.

In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,730 is directed to a wiper blade with areinforcing rail locating means. The rails include recesses on oppositesides thereof that are located at opposite ends of the rail. Thisprovides reversibility of the rails. However, the recesses in the railsare not for receiving a claw of a windshield wiper assembly, but are forreceiving an increased thickness portion of the wiper blade. In view ofthis, the rails can only be used with a non-extruded wiper blade.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide abacking strip for a windshield wiper assembly, which eliminates theabove problems encountered with conventional windshield wiper frameconnectors.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a backing stripfor a windshield wiper assembly which includes rails having a detentportion on only one end. This allows the manufacture of a single rail,which can be used on either side of a windshield wiper blade to securethe windshield wiper blade to a windshield wiper assembly.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a backingstrip for a windshield wiper assembly which can be used with an extrudedwindshield wiper blade and prevent the windshield wiper blade fromsliding with respect to the remaining portions of the windshield wiperassembly.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide backing stripfor a windshield wiper assembly, which includes rails having a detentportion with a pair of symmetric cut-outs which form a central portiontherebetween. The central portion is preferably formed to have a width,which is wider than a body of the rail to increase the amount of forceapplied by the claw of the windshield wiper assembly.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a backingstrip for a windshield wiper assembly, which is inexpensive and easy tomanufacture. In addition, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly which requiresonly one type of rail that can be used on either side of a windshieldwiper blade.

The above objects are accomplished by a backing strip for windshieldwiper assembly, comprising a pair of rails, each of said pair of railsincluding a body portion and a detent portion, said detent portionincluding a cut-out on each side thereof, said cut-outs being generallysymmetric with each other and forming a pair of hooks on each side ofsaid detent portion, wherein the cut-out on one side of said detentportion of each of said rails is for receiving a claw of the windshieldwiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of the detent portionof each of the rails are for engaging a windshield wiper blade of thewindshield wiper assembly.

The above objects are also accomplished by a rail for a backing stripfor a windshield wiper assembly, comprising a body portion and a detentportion, said detent portion including a cut-out on each side thereof,said cut-outs being generally symmetric with each other and forming apair of hooks on each side of said detent portion, wherein the cut-outon one side of said detent portion is for receiving a claw of thewindshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the opposite side of thedetent portion are for engaging a windshield wiper blade of thewindshield wiper assembly.

The above objects are also accomplished by a method of manufacturing arail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, said methodcomprising the steps of forming a body member having a generallyrectangular cross-section; stamping a portion of said body member toform a decreased thickness portion; and cutting out a portion of saiddecreased thickness portion to form a detent portion having a cut-out oneach side thereof, said cut-outs being generally symmetric with eachother and forming a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion,wherein the cut-out on one side of said detent portion is for receivinga claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on the oppositeside of the detent portion is for engaging a windshield wiper blade ofthe windshield wiper assembly

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are notlimitative of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a backing strip for a windshield wiper accordingto the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 accordingto a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 accordingto a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 accordingto a third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the presentinvention in use on a windshield wiper assembly;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the third embodiment of the presentinvention in use on a windshield wiper assembly; and

FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view of the first embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawings, the preferredembodiments of the present invention will be described. Referring toFIG. 1, a rail 1 includes a body portion 3 and a detent portion 5. Thebody 3 of the rail 1 is elongated, flat and generally rectangular incross-section. The detent portion 5 is formed adjacent only one end ofthe body 3.

The rail 1 of the present invention can be formed of any material thatcan provide the necessary rigidity to a windshield wiper blade, whilepermitting the windshield wiper blade to conform to the curvature of thewindshield of a vehicle. It is preferred that the rail 1 of the presentinvention be constructed from stainless steel; however, other materialswill be readily understood to one having ordinary skill in the art.

Referring to the enlarged portion of FIG. 1, the detent portion 5includes a pair of cut-outs 7, which form a pair of hooks 9 on each sideof the detent portion 5. Referring to FIGS. 3-5 of the presentinvention, a rail 1 is received in a windshield wiper blade 13 of awindshield wiper assembly on each of opposite sides thereof. Thewindshield wiper blade 13 can also be referred to as a squeegee orrubber squeegee. Specifically, the rails 1 are received in slots 15formed in sides of the windshield wiper blade 13. A claw 17 of thewindshield wiper assembly is received in the detent portions 5 of eachof the rails 1. Specifically, the outer openings 7 in each of the detentportions 5 of the rails 1 receive the claw 17 of the windshield wiperassembly, while the inner hooks 9 of the detent portion in each of therails 1 cooperate with each other to secure the windshield wiper blade13 therebetween.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 3 of the present invention, the rails 1according to the first embodiment of the present invention include hooks9 extending outwardly from a top of the detent portion 5 and hooks 9extending from a bottom of the detent portion 5. When the rails 1 aremounted to the windshield wiper blade 13, the top hooks 9 in one rail 1are oriented to extend toward a center of the windshield wiper assemblyand the top hooks 9 in the opposite rail 1 are oriented to extend awayfrom the center of the windshield wiper assembly. In view of this, whenthe claw 15 is received within the cut-outs 7, the hooks 9 in each ofthe rails 1 cooperate with each other to secure the windshield wiperblade 13 therebetween.

Referring to FIG. 3, the windshield wiper blade 13 is made of a flexiblematerial. In view of this, when the claw 17 is secured within the detentportions 5 of the rails 1, the material of the windshield wiper blade 13flexes and the hooks 9 push into the material of the windshield wiperblade 13 to secure the windshield wiper blade 13 to the windshield wiperassembly in a secure manner. In view of this, the windshield wiper blade13 is prevented from sliding with respect to the claw 17 and thereforethe windshield wiper assembly.

It should be noted that it is preferred that the hooks 9 of the oppositerails 1 overlap each other with the material of the windshield wiperblade 13 being located therebetween. In FIG. 3, the hooks are notillustrated in overlapping manner; however, it is preferred that each ofthe hooks 9 of the rails 1 cross over the center line 19, so that thehooks 9 overlap each other. This provides a more secure attachment ofthe rails 1 to the windshield wiper blade 13.

Referring to FIG. 3, the material of the windshield wiper blade 3 bulgesat 21 to permit the hooks 9 to overlap with each other when the railsare secured by the claw 17. Since the opposite rails 1 include hooksthat are displaced vertically from each other, rather than aligned witheach other, the material of the windshield wiper blade 13 is allowed tobe displaced to form the bulges 21. This bulging of the windshield wiperblade 13 further secures the rails 1 to the windshield wiper blade 13.

Referring again to FIG. 1 of the present invention, a central portion ofthe detent portion 1 is formed to have a width which is greater than awidth of the body 3. In view of this, when the claw 17 is mounted withinthe cut-outs 7 of the detent portion 5 of the rails 1, a force appliedto rails 1 is increased, such that the rails 1 are pushed further inwardtoward the center of the windshield wiper assembly. It should beunderstood that increasing the width of the central portion inconjunction with decreasing the width of the claw 17 will control theamount of overlap, if any, of the hooks 9 of the cooperating rails 1.

Referring to FIG. 2B of the present invention, the second embodiment ofwill be described. FIG. 2B is a cross-section along the lines 2-2 ofFIG. 1 and illustrates the second embodiment of the present inventionwhich includes a top portion of the detent portion 5 having a thicknesswhich is decreased across an entire width. In view of this, the hooks 9on one side of the rail 1 are thicker than the hooks 9 on the oppositeside of the rail 1. Accordingly, when the rails 1 according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention are mounted to the windshieldwiper blade 13, the thicker hooks 9 on one rail cooperate with thethinner hooks of the opposite rail to secure the material of thewindshield wiper blade 13 therebetween. The second embodiment of thepresent invention has not been illustrated in use with the windshieldwiper blade 13; however, the operation can easily be understood from areview of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 2C of the present invention, the third embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrate. FIG. 2C is also a cross-sectionalong the line 2-2 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2C, the cross-section ofthe detent portion 5 of the rail 1 is the same as the second embodimentof FIG. 2C, except that the hooks 9 on one side have been bent upwardlyand the hooks 9 on the opposite side have been bent downwardly.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the present invention, the third embodiment ofthe present invention is illustrated schematically in use. Specifically,the rails 1 are mounted in the slots 15 of the windshield wiper blade13. The rail 1 on one side of the windshield wiper blade 13 is mountedsuch that the hooks having an upward bend extend toward the center line19, while the rail 1 on the opposite side is mounted such that the hookshaving a downward bend extend toward the center line 19. In view ofthis, when the claw 17 is received within the openings 7 in each of therails 1, the inner hooks of the rails 1 overlap each other and securethe windshield wiper blade 13 therebetween

The rail 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention ismanufactured by forming a generally rectangular base member. A portionof the base member is stamped to decrease the thickness of the basemember and therefore form the base portion 3 and the decreased thicknessportion which will be used for the detent portion 5.

In FIG. 2A, the stamping is carried out by a top die and a bottom die(not shown) that have raised portions to form the decreased thicknessportion to have the cross-sectional shape illustrated in FIG. 2A.Specifically, the stamping is carried out to form a decreased thicknessportion 23 on the bottom on one side of the detent portion 5 and adecreased thickness portion 25 on the top on the opposite side of thedetent portion 5.

As an alternative, the bottom die can be flat and the top die can haveraised portions to form the decreased thickness portion into the shapeillustrated in FIG. 2B. Specifically, the stamping is carried out toform a decreased thickness portion 23 on one side of the detent portion5 which is thinner than a decreased thickness portion 25 on the oppositeside of the detent portion 5.

The next step in the manufacture of the rail 1 is to cut out portions ofthe decreased thickness portions 23, 25 on each side of the detentportion 5 to form the cut-outs 7. In FIGS. 2A and 2B, the cut-outs areformed without bending the hooks 9, while in FIG. 2C, the cut-outs areformed at the same time as the hooks on one side of the rail 1 bentupwardly and the hooks 9 on the opposite side are bent downwardly. Thecutting and bending in the third embodiment of FIG. 2C can easily beperformed by a die having a cutting portion and a bending portion (notshown).

Referring to FIG. 5, the first embodiment of the present invention isillustrated in perspective view along with a windshield wiper blade 13.As identified by the arrow, the rail 1 is inserted into the slot 15 oneach side of the windshield wiper blade 13. The inner hooks 9 of theillustrated rail 1 (the other rail is not shown) engage a bottom of theinner wall of the slot 15, since the inner hooks 9 extend from a bottomof the detent portion 5. As can be understood, the rail on the oppositeside would have the inner hooks 9 extending from the top side of thedetent portion 5 so that the inner rails 9 of the two rails cooperatewith each other to secure the windshield wiper blade 13 therebetween.This arrangement is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3.

After the rails 1 are inserted into the slots 15, the claw 17 is securedwithin the outer cut-outs in each of the rails 1. This forces the innerhooks 9 to overlap with each other to strongly secure the windshieldwiper blade 13 to the rails 1 to prevent sliding of the windshield wiperblade 13.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

1. A backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly, comprising: a pairof rails, each of said pair of rails including a body portion and adetent portion, said detent portion including a cut-out on each sidethereof, said cut-outs being generally symmetric with each other andforming a pair of hooks on each side of said detent portion, wherein thecut-out on one side of said detent portion of each of said rails is forreceiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and the hooks on theopposite side of the detent portion of each of the rails are forengaging a windshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly. 2.The backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim 1,wherein said detent portion includes at least a portion thereof which isdecreased in thickness with respect to a thickness of said body portion.3. The backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim1, wherein the pair of hooks on one side of said detent portion extendsoutwardly from a top of said detent portion and the pair of hooks on theother side of said detent portion extends outwardly from a bottom ofsaid detent portion.
 4. The backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly according to claim 1, wherein the pair of hooks on one side ofsaid detent portion is thicker than the pair of hooks on the other sideof the detent portion.
 5. The backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly according to claim 3, wherein a first of said pair of railsincludes the top hooks oriented toward a center of the windshield wiperblade and a second of said pair of rails includes the top hooks orientedaway from the center of the windshield wiper blade such that the tophooks of the first rail overlap with the bottom hooks of the second railwhen said pair of rails is mounted to the windshield wiper assembly. 6.The backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim 4,wherein a first of said pair of rails includes the thicker hooksoriented toward a center of the windshield wiper blade and a second ofsaid pair of rails includes the thicker hooks oriented away from centerof the windshield wiper blade such that the thicker hooks of the firstrail overlap with the thinner hooks of the second rail when said pair ofrails is mounted to the windshield wiper assembly.
 7. The backing stripfor a windshield wiper assembly according to claim 1, wherein saiddetent portion includes a central portion formed between said cut-outsand a width of said central portion is greater than a width of said bodyportion.
 8. The backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein each of said hooks has an internal edge formed by arespective cut-out which is non-perpendicular to a longitudinaldirection of said body.
 9. The backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly according to claim 8, wherein said internal edge is formed atan angle of 85° or less with respect to the longitudinal direction ofsaid body.
 10. The backing strip for a windshield wiper assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein said pair of hooks on one side of saiddetent portion is bent in an upward direction and said pair of hooks onthe other side of said detent portion is bent in a downward direction.11. A rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly,comprising: a body portion and a detent portion, said detent portionincluding a cut-out on each side thereof, said cut-outs being generallysymmetric with each other and forming a pair of hooks on each side ofsaid detent portion, wherein the cut-out on one side of said detentportion is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and thehooks on the opposite side of the detent portion are for engaging awindshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly.
 12. The railfor a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim11, wherein said detent portion includes at least a portion thereofwhich is decreased in thickness with respect to a thickness of said bodyportion.
 13. The rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly according to claim 11, wherein the pair of hooks on one side ofsaid detent portion extend outwardly from a top of said detent portionand the pair of hooks on the other side of said detent portion extendsoutwardly from a bottom of said detent portion.
 14. The rail for abacking strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim 11,wherein the pair of hooks on one side of said detent portion is thickerthan the pair of hooks on the other side of the detent portion.
 15. Therail for a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly according toclaim 11, wherein said detent portion includes a central portion formedbetween said cut-outs and a width of said central portion is greaterthan a width of said body portion.
 16. The rail for a backing strip fora windshield wiper assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of saidhooks has an internal edge formed by the cut-out which isnon-perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of said body.
 17. The railfor a backing strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim8, wherein said internal edge is formed at an angle of 85° or less withrespect to the longitudinal direction of said body.
 18. The rail for abacking strip for a windshield wiper assembly according to claim 1,wherein said pair of hooks on one side of said detent portion is bent inan upward direction and said pair of hooks on the other side of saiddetent portion is bent in a downward direction.
 19. A method ofmanufacturing a rail for a backing strip for a windshield wiperassembly, said method comprising the steps of: forming a body memberhaving a generally rectangular cross-section; stamping a portion of saidbody member to form a decreased thickness portion; and cutting out aportion of said decreased thickness portion to form a detent portionhaving a cut-out on each side thereof, said cut-outs being generallysymmetric with each other and forming a pair of hooks on each side ofsaid detent portion, wherein the cut-out on one side of said detentportion is for receiving a claw of the windshield wiper assembly and thehooks on the opposite side of the detent portion is for engaging awindshield wiper blade of the windshield wiper assembly.